Tavien Clair still sharing Ohio State backup QB role
Ohio State coach Ryan Day said Tavien Clair — listed as Tavien St. Clair — and true freshman Luke Fahey will continue splitting backup quarterback reps ahead of Saturday’s opener against Ball State, with both possibly playing if starter Julian Sayin and the Buckeyes build a comfortable lead. The update comes four days before the college football season starts and keeps the No. 2 job unsettled.
Key Takeaways
- Julian Sayin remains Ohio State’s starter; Tavien Clair and Luke Fahey are splitting backup reps.
- Day hopes both backups can play vs. Ball State if the Buckeyes build a big lead.
- Ohio State opened as a 50.5-point favorite over Ball State, per FanDuel odds cited by Yahoo Sports.
- St. Clair, a former five-star in the 2025 class, has not locked down the clear backup role after fall camp.
What did Ohio State announce about Tavien Clair?
Ryan Day told reporters on September 1 that the Buckeyes will keep splitting “twos” reps between Tavien St. Clair and Luke Fahey this week. “We're going to let those guys continue to split reps with the twos this week and see how the week goes,” Day said, according to Yahoo Sports.
“And if we can get them both reps in the game, we'll try to do that. We'll just kind of see how the game goes,” he added. That plan depends on game flow against Ball State on Saturday, September 5.
Why does the backup quarterback race matter?
Sayin is locked in as the Week 1 starter, but the depth chart behind him is less settled. Sports Illustrated reported that St. Clair appeared to struggle in fall camp and did not seize the No. 2 spot outright, leaving him in a live competition with true freshman Fahey.
St. Clair arrived as a high-profile piece of the 2025 recruiting class. 247Sports ranked him the No. 3 quarterback in that class. Before camp, The Athletic’s Manny Navarro listed him among the nation’s top backups, citing his size (6-4, 230) and five-star pedigree — while noting he had taken only 13 snaps and attempted two passes in his college career.
Yahoo Sports also noted Sayin could be a candidate to leave for the 2027 NFL draft, raising the stakes on who develops as the program’s next quarterback. Day had already challenged St. Clair in February to “really take the next step” and be ready behind Sayin.
Will Ohio State play three quarterbacks against Ball State?
Day’s comments suggest yes — if the score allows it. Ohio State is a massive favorite, listed at 50.5 points by FanDuel in the Yahoo Sports report, which would create a window to evaluate both Tavien Clair and Fahey in a live setting.
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Day also cautioned that Week 1 scouting is harder after transfer-portal roster turnover. He said he is “not sure” exactly what Ball State will look like until the teams are on the field, while still expressing respect for their coaching staff and program.
What should Buckeyes fans watch Saturday?
Beyond Sayin’s first start of the year, the clearest subplot is whether St. Clair or Fahey separates in shared practice work — and whether both get meaningful snaps if Ohio State pulls away. A decisive lead would give Day a rare early look at both backups without disrupting the starter’s rhythm.
Until then, the official word is simple: the backup job remains split, and Tavien Clair has not closed the door on competition four days before the season begins.